Lifting device



Jan.

INVENTOR FR/ TZ NEBEL ING ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 2,699,913iLIFTINc.: DEVICE Fritz Nebeling, Remscheid, Germany Application August17, 1950, Serial No. 179,921

Claims priority, application Germany November 5, 1949 8 Claims. (Cl.248-143) This invention relates to new and useful improvements inlifting device. r

One object of the invention comprises an improved lifting device andparticularly for the handling of substantially cylindrical objects.

Another object of the invention is a lifting device for containers andparticularly drums from which liquid contents are to be dispensed. f

The foregoing and still further objects of the invention will beapparent from the following description read in conjunction with thedrawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic representation showing the most essentialelements of an embodiment constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 represents a front view of a preferred construction in accordancewith the invention;

Fig. 3 represents a diagrammatic illustration of a lifting procedureinvolved in the practice of the invention; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective View of a construction in accordancewith the invention showing a drum in its lifted position.

As illustrated in the drawings, the member 1 of the lifting device whichpreferably defines a major arc, the lifting and lowering member 2 andthe floor support 3 all as illustrated in Fig. 2 substantiallycorrespond to the diagrammatic representation of Fig. l. As there shown,the center, O, of the circle 1 is connected'by the radius 4 to point 5located on the periphery of the circle 1. This point 5 correspondsapproximately in Fig. 2 to the upper downwardly directed edge member 5.Center O of circle 1 is connected to point 7 by li'ne 6. This point 7 ofFig. l is approximately located in Fig. 2 on the lower part of the floorsupport. The height differential determined by point 7 defines thelifting height of which the device is capable.

The lifting and lowering member 2 extends between points 5 and points 7and substantially corresponds to the spiral 8 illustrated in Fig. l.This spiral 8 commences in point 9 and intersects circle 1 in point 5extending to point 7. In the practical construction of the lifting andlowering member 2, however, only that portion of the curve of spiral 8is considered which substantially extends between points 5 and 7.

The lifting and lowering member 2 substantially terminates in the uppersubstantially downwardly directed edge member 5 and harmoniously extendsat point 7 into the substantially horizontal lower Hoor support member.

Point 10 (Fig. l) approximates in the illustration of Fig. 2 the lowerupwardly directed edge member 10. There is thus defined between points 5and 10 substantially a major arc, with points 5 and 10 substantiallyconstituting the termini of the arc. The spacing between points or edgemembers 5 and 10 depends in each case upon the particular size of thedevice. This spacing, however, should be preferably so dimensioned thatfor instance for cylindrical objects, such as drums, paper rolls orsimilar articles, the object to be lifted cannot pass through thisopening though at the same time permitting the device to be moved overthe object to be lifted while the same rests on the oor as will be morefully explained hereafter.

The inner runner or member 1 is provided with rollers 11. In theillustration shown these are secured adjacent each side of the lowestportion of the arc member 1 relative the floor support and will thusfurnish an object-support portion of the runner member upon which,

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for instance, a cylindrical object and particularly a drum may rest andmay be easily rotated around its axis. This permits the easy rotation offor instance a drum into and out of its bung hole discharging position.

Floor rollers 12 are provided on the floor support member. Only one suchfloor roller is shown in the illustration though preferably two suchrollers are provided, one adjacent each side of the device. Also, twohandles 13 (only one shown in the illustration) are provided andpreferably positioned for retractable projection relative the peripheralplane defined by the outer runners. The handles are adjustable in thedirection of arrow 14 into position at which they will retract relativethe periphery of the lifting and lowering members '2 in the rollingcontact of these with a fioor when-lifting or lowering an object withthe device. The handles are primarily used and intended when the deviceis being earted by the way of the iioor rollers 12.

ln the practical operation of the device in accordance with theYinvention as for instance illustrated in Fig. 3, the arcuate innerrunner members 1 are for instance moved or shoved over one end of, forexample, a drum 15 resting on the floor. After the inner runners 1 areplaced in appropriately balanced position over the drum mantel, thedevice is moved in the direction ofthe arrow 16 rolling the same overthe outer runners 2 until the device assumes the substantially uprightposition with the floor support resting on the ground. In this position,as illustrated in Fig. 4, the drum rests inthe device in an elevatedposition and may be easily emptied. Drum 15 may be for example turned by'way of the Arollers 11 so as to discharge its contents through theopened bung hole 17 in for example a suitable container 18.' By simplerotation of the drum in the opposite direction the bung hole may beagain lifted into its non-discharging position. If it is desired afteremptying the drum or at any other time to again lower the drum to thefioor, it is only necessary to reverse the above-described operation andturn the device in the opposite direction to that illustrated by arrow16 in Fig. 3. Once the drum again rests on the floor, the device may beslipped off by withdrawing the same in a direction longitudinal to thedrum axis.

As is thus apparent from the foregoing, the lifting device in accordancewith the invention essentially comprises first means defining a floorsupport having a front and rear end, second means defining substantiallyinwardly curving inner runner means above and supportingly secured tosaid oor support in spaced relation thereto and including a lowerobject-support portion above said floor support and defining an upperand therefrom spaced apart lower terminus on the same side as said frontend, and third means defining outer runner means extending spirally fromsaid floor support rear end in substantially overlying relation to saidinner runner means, to substantially said upper terminus, said secondand third means respectively defining first and second curved planescross-sectionally intersecting at a substantially acute angle.

Within a preferred embodiment of the invention, however, andparticularly insofar as the same is applicable to the lifting andlowering and otherwise handling of substantially cylindrical objects andespecially drums, the inner runner means define between the terminithereof a curved plane the cross-section of which substantially definesa major arc, preferably all lines within the planes respectively definedby the inner and outer runners, and which lines are substantially normalto these runners, being substantially parallel to each other. When usingindividual runners for the inner and outer runners within the preferredconstruction in accordance with the invention it is of advantage toprovide each pair of arcuate and spiral runners substantially within aplane which is substantially normal to the each other overlying planesdefined by inner and outer runners respectively. It is also for bestresults desirable, and so illustrated in the drawings, that the spirallyextending outer runners cornmence at or near the lowest part of the rearend of the floor support and beginning thereat with a substantially fiatcurve.

The device in accordance with this invention permits of particularlyeasy construction and within the preferred embodiment of the invention Ifind it of Vadvantage to use metal stock, and particularly tubular metalstock, for the construction of the device. In this manner, the device asfor instance illustrated in Fig. 4 may consist of at least two blanks ofmetal stock and preferably tubular metal stock, each blank essentiallyincluding a oor support, an inner runner above said iloor support anddening a major arc having its termini on one side of said blank, supportmembers securing said inner runner to said floor support in spacedrelation thereto, and an outer runner extending spirally from about thelowest part of said oor support, at the other side of said blank,beginning with a substantially at curve and ending at the upper arcterminus of said inner runner in substantially overlying relationthereto and apexing therewith at a substantially acute angle. Theseblanks may then be assembled in substantially congruous position to eachother as for instance by way of the tubular connections 19. It is thenbest to so select the vspacing between the two blanks forming the sidesof the device that the same corresponds to about one-third of the axiallength of the object to be lifted.

Aside from the relative ease with which objects may be lifted from thefloor by means of the device in accordance with the invention, the sameprevents the dropping of the object during the lifting or the loweringthereof and thus a possible damage thereto. This is particularlyadvantageous in connection with the useof the device for the lifting andlowering of steel drums as they are, for instance, used in connectionwith oil drums, asphalt drums, etc. Even when lowering the empty drumsthe workmen are compelled by the use of this device to bring the samegradually onto the floor and thus avoid denting thereof.

I claim:

l. A lifting device comprising first means defining a floor support withspaced apart side planes having a front and rear end, second meansdefining substantially inwardly curving inner runner means above andsupportingly secured to said floor support in spaced relation theretoand including a lower object-support portion above said iloor supportand defining an upper and therefrom spaced apart lower terminus on thesame side as said front end, said second means having a greater maximumdiameter than the distance between said termini and third means definingouter runner means extending spirally from said floor support rear endin substantially overlying relation to said inner runner means, tosubstantially said upper terminus, said second and third meansrespectively defining an inner and outer curved profile joining at asubstantially acute angle.

2. A lifting device according to claim l in which the cross-section ofsaid second means between said termini substantially defines a majorarc.

3. A lifting device according to claim 2 in which the space dened by andsubstantially Within said second means is substantially open on at leastone end thereof to permit substantially unobstructed insertion into saidspace of an object to be lifted.

4. A lifting device according to claim 3 in which said second meansdefine at least two substantially parallel inner-surface guide runners,in which said third means define at least two substantially parallelouter surface runners, in Which all lines within said inner and outerprofile which are normal to their runners are substantially parallel toeach other.

5. A lifting device comprising at least two substantially parallelpositioned side members of substantially congruous configuration to eachother and each including a floor support member having a front and rearend, an inner runner positioned over said floor support and secured tothe same in spaced relation thereto and curving to substantially definea major arc with its termini above said front end and an outer runnerextending spirally from said rear end to the upper arc terminus of lsaidinner runner in substantially overlying relation thereto and forming anapex therewith at a substantially acute angle, and means for securingsaid side members in spaced, substantially parallel and symmetricposition to each other.

6. A lifting device according to claim 5 in which each of said innerrunners is provided substantially adjacent each side of the lowestportion of said arc above said floor support with at least one roller.

7. A lifting device according to claim 5 in which said oor support isprovided with iloor rollers.

8. A lifting device according to claim 7 in which at least oneretractable handle is secured to said device and positioned forprojection relative the profile defined by the outer runners.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,933,382 Monroe Oct. 3l, 1933 2,036,791 Bretschger Apr. 7, 19362,418,503 Fox Apr. 8, 1947 2,439,581 Robins Apr. 13, 1948

